Accessibility laws and standards help ensure websites and applications can be used by people with disabilities. The three most referenced are the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Overview
ADA vs Section 508 vs WCAG
Here’s a brief comparison of what each term means and how it applies:
| Standard | What It Is | Who It Applies To | Enforcement / Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) | U.S. civil rights law that prohibits disability discrimination | Public and private organizations (mostly U.S.) | Enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice |
| Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act | U.S. law that requires federal digital content to be accessible | Federal agencies and their contractors | Enforced through procurement and audits |
| Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) | International technical standard for web accessibility | Anyone building websites or apps | Not a law, but widely adopted and referenced in regulations |
This article explains the differences between the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 508, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
What Is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a 1990 U.S. civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in various areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, and communication.
Although originally intended for physical spaces, it has since been interpreted to apply to digital services, including websites and mobile applications.
ADA does not define specific technical criteria for web or mobile accessibility. However, courts have frequently used the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) AA as a reference standard when determining whether a website complies with the ADA. Two well-known cases that highlight this include:
- Gil v. Winn-Dixie Stores (2017): The court ruled in favor of a blind plaintiff who could not access the grocery chain’s website using a screen reader. The judge found that the site was closely tied to the physical store and thus subject to ADA requirements.
- Robles v. Domino’s Pizza (2019): The Ninth Circuit Court held that the ADA applies to both the company’s website and mobile app. The ruling emphasized that businesses offering goods and services online must ensure equal access for users with disabilities.
Read More: ADA Standards for Accessible Design
What Is Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act?
Section 508 is part of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It mandates that federal agencies make all electronic and information technology accessible to individuals with disabilities. This includes everything from public-facing websites to internal systems, documents, and software applications.
Section 508 applies to federal agencies, contractors, and vendors supplying digital tools or services. If your company works with the U.S. government, your digital product must meet the accessibility criteria defined by this law.
In 2018, Section 508 was refreshed to align with WCAG 2.0 Level AA. This means the technical standard for compliance is clearly defined. Agencies and vendors are expected to conform to these requirements when developing or procuring digital solutions.
Unlike the ADA, Section 508 enforcement happens primarily through procurement checks and internal reviews. Products that fail to meet requirements can be rejected, delayed, or sent back for remediation. Vendors may be asked to submit a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) that details how their product meets the required standards.
Also Read: 508 Compliance Testing Tools
What Are the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)?
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are international technical standards developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). WCAG explains how to make web and digital content accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments.
There are three versions and conformance levels of WCAG, including:
- WCAG 2.0 was published in 2008. It introduced four key principles: content must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust, known collectively as the POUR principles. WCAG 2.0 is still referenced by many legal frameworks, including the United States’ Section 508.
- WCAG 2.1 was released in 2018. It builds on version 2.0 by adding guidelines that improve accessibility for people with low vision, cognitive limitations, and those using mobile devices. This version is widely used in modern accessibility strategies.
- WCAG 2.2 was finalized in 2023. It adds nine new success criteria that address needs such as clearer focus indicators, support for dragging motions, and accessible authentication. Some countries are now updating their policies to align with this version.
Each version includes three levels of WCAG compliance, with each level building on the previous one:
- Level A: Covers basic accessibility requirements like alt text for images, form labels, and keyboard navigation. It removes significant barriers but does not support full accessibility for most users.
- Level AA: Adds requirements such as sufficient color contrast, visible focus indicators, and resizable text. It is the most commonly used standard in laws and policies, including Section 508 in the United States.
- Level AAA: Introduces advanced criteria like sign language for videos, extended audio descriptions, and detailed error messages. It is not usually required by law and is the most difficult to implement.
Note: Although WCAG is not legally binding by itself, many laws and procurement policies around the world reference it as a benchmark.
ADA vs. Section 508 vs. WCAG: Key Differences
Although ADA, Section 508, and WCAG all aim to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, they differ in their purpose, scope, enforcement, and technical clarity. Here is a table highlighting the differences between ADA, Section 508, and WCAG.
| Aspect | ADA | Section 508 | WCAG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Civil rights law | U.S. federal procurement law | International technical accessibility guideline |
| Legal Status | U.S. law (Title II and Title III) | U.S. law (Rehabilitation Act amendment) | Not legally binding, but referenced in regulations |
| Enforcement Mechanism | Lawsuits, DOJ enforcement | Federal procurement, audits | Adopted voluntarily or through legal incorporation |
| Who Needs to Follow It | Public-facing businesses and organizations in the U.S. | Federal agencies and their digital vendors | All digital content |
| Technical Standard Specified | No, but WCAG is often used in court | WCAG 2.0 Level AA required | WCAG 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 (Levels A, AA, AAA) |
| Geographic Scope | U.S.-only | U.S.-only | Globally |
| Commonly Used in | Retail websites, healthcare portals, and educational platforms | Federal websites, internal government systems, and vendor tools | Accessibility audits, legal reviews, and international procurement |
What If You’re Non-Compliant with ADA, Section 508, and WCAG?
Failure to meet accessibility standards can lead to legal risks, financial penalties, and reputational damage. It can also exclude users with disabilities from accessing your digital content.
Here’s what non-compliance can result in:
- Lawsuits and Legal Action: You may face lawsuits under the ADA or Section 508, especially if your website or app is inaccessible to users with disabilities.
- Fines and Settlements: Non-compliance can lead to costly settlements or federal penalties, particularly for government agencies and contractors.
- Loss of Contracts: Vendors and suppliers may be disqualified from government or enterprise contracts that require WCAG or Section 508 compliance.
- Brand and Trust Damage: Excluding users with disabilities can harm your brand image and reduce customer trust.
- Limited Audience Reach: Inaccessible websites block millions of users who rely on assistive technologies, reducing your potential reach and engagement.
How to Become ADA, Section 508, and WCAG Compliant
A structured approach helps meet compliance requirements more efficiently. Follow these steps to align with ADA, Section 508, and WCAG guidelines.
Step 1: Audit Your Digital Properties
Review your websites, apps, PDFs, and internal platforms. Use automated tools like BrowserStack to flag common issues and conduct manual audits to cover edge cases and assistive technology use. BrowserStack allows you to test these components on real devices and browsers to identify accessibility issues.
Step 2: Map Issues to WCAG Criteria
Both ADA and Section 508 rely on WCAG as the technical benchmark, so following WCAG helps ensure compliance across all three. Organize violations by WCAG success criteria and levels (A, AA, AAA). This helps prioritize issues based on severity and coverage.
Step 3: Fix Critical Accessibility Gaps
Start with Level A and AA failures that block access, such as missing alt text, form label errors, or keyboard traps. Additionally, use semantic HTML and ARIA roles where appropriate.
Step 4: Include Accessibility in Procurement
Require vendors to provide VPATs aligned with WCAG 2.0 or higher. Verify accessibility claims during procurement reviews for Section 508 compliance.
Step 5: Train Teams and Update Processes
Make accessibility part of your design, development, QA, and content workflows. Offer role-specific training for designers, developers, writers, and testers.
Read More: Accessibility Training for Designers
Step 6: Test with Assistive Technologies
Validate experiences using screen readers (like NVDA or VoiceOver), keyboard navigation, and other assistive tools. Test across different browsers and devices.
Read More: How to Test Websites with Screen Readers
Step 7: Publish an Accessibility Statement
Create a public-facing accessibility statement that outlines your organization’s commitment to digital accessibility. Specify which standards your website or application conforms to, such as WCAG 2.1 AA or Section 508. Include a summary of ongoing efforts, recent improvements, and known limitations.
Step 8: Monitor and Maintain Compliance
Set up ongoing monitoring through automated testing, manual testing, and user feedback. Re-audit your digital properties after every major update, redesign, or third-party integration.
Accessibility for Mobile Apps vs Websites
Websites and mobile apps both aim to make digital content usable for people with disabilities, but the way accessibility is implemented differs due to platform constraints, interaction methods, and enforcement channels.
| Factor | Websites | Mobile Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable Standards | Websites must follow WCAG, and if they serve U.S. audiences, they also fall under ADA and Section 508. | Mobile apps also follow WCAG and ADA. Section 508 applies if the app is built for federal use. |
| Device Constraints | Websites must work across screen sizes, operating systems, and browsers. Responsive design and consistent rendering are key. | Apps must work across iOS and Android, which each have their own frameworks, screen sizes, and hardware behavior. It is harder to consistently support all devices. |
| Common Issues | Issues like low contrast, missing form labels, or skipped heading levels often block access. Browser tools can detect these. | Apps often have issues like missing content descriptions, inaccessible custom elements, tiny touch targets, and limited gesture support, making them harder to detect and fix. |
| Platform Requirements | Websites achieve accessibility using semantic HTML, ARIA labels, and keyboard compatibility. | Mobile apps must support built-in accessibility services like VoiceOver on iOS and TalkBack on Android. They must also support Dynamic Type settings, screen magnification, and platform gestures. |
| Testing Requirements | Websites can be tested using browser-based screen readers, keyboard navigation, zoom, and automated WCAG scanners. | Mobile apps need to be tested on real devices. Simulators often miss problems with gestures, screen reader output, and system font scaling. |
| Enforcement | Non-compliant websites can trigger lawsuits, DOJ complaints, or contract losses under ADA and Section 508. | The same legal risks apply to apps. In addition, app stores may reject updates or listings that fail accessibility checks, especially when features don’t work with system assistive tools. |
Also Read: Does WCAG Apply to Mobile Apps?
How BrowserStack Helps Meet ADA, Section 508, and WCAG Compliance?
BrowserStack is a cloud-based testing platform that lets you test website accessibility across over 3,500 real browsers and device combinations. It helps you detect WCAG issues and comply with ADA, Section 508, AODA, and VPAT.
Here are some key features of BrowserStack Accessibility Testing:
- Real Device Cloud: Run accessibility tests on real mobile phones and tablets to ensure that screen readers, gestures, and visual settings behave as expected on actual hardware.
- Workflow Analyzer: Analyze entire user flows to uncover missing alt text, poor color contrast, and non-compliant elements across multiple pages in one pass.
- Automated Tests: Plug accessibility checks into your CI/CD pipeline using the BrowserStack SDK to catch and fix issues before they reach production.
- Spectra Rule Engine: Run detailed WCAG audits on public and behind-login pages and get a complete report based on the latest WCAG version.
- Live Testing with Screen Readers: Manually verify content using popular screen readers like NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver on real browsers and devices.
- Keyboard Navigation Simulation: Ensure users can access every interactive element using only a keyboard by covering scenarios often missed in automated tests.
Conclusion
ADA, Section 508, and WCAG all aim to make digital content accessible, but they serve different purposes. ADA is a civil rights law that applies broadly to public-facing businesses in the U.S., while Section 508 mandates accessibility for federal agencies and contractors. WCAG, developed by W3C, is the technical standard referenced by both laws and widely adopted globally.
BrowserStack helps ensure your website complies with ADA, Section 508, and WCAG by allowing you to test on 3,500 real devices and browsers in the cloud. It helps detect WCAG violations, verify screen reader support, and check keyboard navigation across real-user conditions.
Featured Article
